2006 New York Giants Preview

Our writers preview the 2006 season for the New York Giants

Although the Giants had their best regular season in some time last year, there was a very sour taste left in their mouth after getting trounced by the Panthers on their home turf in the first round of the playoffs. While nothing went right for the Giants against Carolina, the biggest hole that they needed to patch proved to be in their secondary. After Will Allen was let go and Will Peterson retired due to health problems, New York has a completely revamped secondary and one that should be much more effective against the pass in 2006. The Giants signed safety Will Demps out of Baltimore to play along side Gibril Wilson. This should give the Giants a much needed boost to their secondary which ranked 27th against the pass a season ago. The Giants also signed CB Sam Madison towards the end of last year, and while he is in the twilight of his career, he should be able to give New York a couple of solid years. However, the Giants biggest off-season pick up was OLB LaVar Arrington from Washington. Washington was rumored to let go of Arrington because he had trouble fitting in to their scheme, but he should fit right in with the Giants. Arrington will be playing alongside Antonio Pierce who was hurt for much of last season, and will be playing behind one of the best pass rushing tandems in the NFL, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. However, the biggest question the Giants have heading into 2006 is whether or not Eli Manning can be the man in the Big Apple. Manning was impressive in many games last season, but struggled mightily on the road and played his worst game against the Panthers. One of the problems with Manning, they say in New York, is that he does not throw the tightest of spirals. Because his throws are sometimes wobbly, the crosswinds in the Meadowlands greatly affect them and they tend to sail high of his target, leading to incompletions and interceptions. However, if Manning can improve and reach his full potential, and Tiki Barber continues to be the MVP caliber back that he’s been the last couple of years, the Giants may not only win the NFC East, but the Super Bowl as well.